Abolishing the Philippine Export Council and Creating the Philippine Export Advisory Council

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Executive Order No. 573

Declaration of Policy (Section 1):
- Promote and develop foreign trade
- Encourage, expand and diversify exports to generate employment, income, improve balance of payments, and accelerate economic development
- Assist and support private sector producers and traders in export development and promotion
- Optimize private sector participation in formulating and implementing export programs

Creation of the Philippine Export Advisory Council (Section 2):
- Attached to the Ministry of Trade
- Composed of the Minister of Trade as ex-officio Chairman and 8 private sector members appointed by the President for 3-year terms
- Initial appointments: 2 members for 1 year, 2 members for 2 years, 4 members for 3 years
- Subsequent appointments for 3 years, except replacements to serve unexpired term

Functions of the Council (Section 3):
- Advise the Minister of Trade on:
    - Philippine products with export potential
    - Export promotion and market diversification projects/programs
    - Facilitation of trade procedures
    - Areas of government-private sector collaboration
- Adopt policy recommendations for submission to the Minister of Trade, Cabinet, or President
- Recommend ways to improve operating environment for export producers and traders

Rules of Proceedings (Section 4):
- The Council shall adopt rules to govern its proceedings

Product Committees (Section 5 & 6):
- The Council shall create Product Committees composed mainly of private sector members
- Committees shall:
    - Conduct policy studies
    - Formulate position papers on policy issues
    - Gather, process, and disseminate export trade information
    - Adopt recommendations for submission to the Council

Chairmanship and Proceedings of Committees (Section 7):
- Each Committee shall elect a Chairman from among its members with Council's concurrence
- The Council shall prescribe rules of proceedings for the Committees

Secretariat for the Council (Section 8):
- The Council shall have a Secretariat under the supervision and control of the Chairman
- The Chairman shall appoint Secretariat personnel, subject to rules and regulations
- Contractual personnel paid from private sector funds are exempt from compensation and civil service rules

Abolition of the Philippine Export Council (Section 9):
- The Philippine Export Council, Committee on Accredited Trading Companies, and Export Advisory Board are abolished
- Their functions, appropriations, records, equipment, property, and necessary personnel are transferred to the Ministry of Trade
- Part of the abolished Council's appropriations shall be made available to the new Council for initial operating expenses

Contributions from the Private Sector (Section 10):
- The Chairman may arrange for contributions or donations from the private sector to augment the Council's funds
- Disbursements from these funds shall follow Council policies, guidelines, and applicable laws

Repealing Clause (Section 11):
- Any acts, statutes, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Executive Order are repealed or modified accordingly

Effectivity (Section 12):
- This Executive Order shall take effect immediately